Windmill, 2nd cousin to the lighthouse.

So if lighthouses guard the seascapes does than make windmills sentry to tulip gardens? In the 2012 first paint out of my plein air season "Wooden Shoe Farm" (9"x12"- above) seems to have the tractor stopped in the field of yellow at the peak of thier blooming season. In contrast "Windmill at Groozen Gaarde" (9"x12"- below) was painted just after the month long festival had ended. Although the gardens still had plenty of color one might guess by the less emphasis focused on the tulips.